Three-way switch



'C. DE F. SMITH. THREE-WAY S'WlTCjH. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24.1.920-

1,889,848. Patentedfiept. 6, 1921.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE DE E. SMITH, orivnw Y nK, N. Y., assienoa To sivrrrH SIGNAL CORPORA- TION, on NEW 2031;, N. Y., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

' THREE-WAY swrron.

Toallwhomitmay concern."

Be itknownthat LCLAUDE on F. SMrrrr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of lwlanhattan, in'the city, county, andState of New York, have in,- venteda new and useful Threel Vay Switch, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to three-way switches suitableparticularly for automobile rear-end signals, and comprises certain features of construction and combination, the general purpose of which'is the'production of a device having great'convenience and certainty of operation, with'simplicity and compactness. A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the draw-' ings and described hereinafter,and the matters of novelty are more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a par-thereof: p

Figure l is a plan or face View of the switch with the cover off,-the bladebelng shown in neutral position infull lines, and

swung to one of its lateral circuit-closing positions, in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the cover on, the entire blade being shown in elevation, pulled forward to another of its circuit-closing positions;

F ig. 3 is a view looking at the rear edge ofFigl;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryface view of the base and parts thereon, with the common bridging contact and the blade removed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing a wing of the blade entered between a pair of stationary contacts in one of the lateral positions of the blade,

Fig. 6 is a perspectiy e view of the blade;

Figs. 7 and 8 are side and'perspective viewsof a locking washer. I

The switch has a flat base 1 of insulation, and a cover 2 fastened by screws 3. I

A flat blade 1 lies over and slightly spaced from the base, projecting outwardly therefrom at the front, where it bears a handle knob 5. An upwardlyprojecting pivot post 6 is secured in the base, approximately at the center, and passes through a longitudinal slot 7 in the blade. The slotted portion of the blade rests upon a shoulder 8 of the pivot above'thesurface of the base, and is held Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented Se t: 6 1921 Application filed January 24, 1920. SerialNo. 353,722.

closely thereto by a Washer 9, a nut 10 on the top of the pivot, and a spring 11 interposed between the'nut and washer; The washer is made with. doW-nturned ears 12, which embrace the blade, to hold the two against turning relatively to each other, and

, with low, rounded, downwardly projecting pr0tuberances13 at the sides of its central opening. Said proturberances arecooperative with notches 13 in the upper face of the blade adjacent'the front and rear ends of the slotted region, whereby an impositive or yielding lock is formed tohold the blade in either of two positions, with reference to longitudinal movement.

Forwardly of the pivot, near the front of the base, the blade rests frictionally .upon a curved plate 1a, whichconstitutes a keeper, and in the illustratedconstruction also serves as a current-receiving contact. The body of this plate israised somewhat above the base, by virtue of its ends being offset downwardly, said ends being secured to the base by screws 15, oneof which serves as'a binding post to hold a battery wire 16.1 The blade is held frictionally to the keeper by means of a resilient tongue l7 riveted to the blade behind the handle 5 and extending rearwardbeneath the raised body of the plate. A longitudinally arranged pair of rounded protuberances 18 struck down from the'portionof the blade which rides on the keeper cooperate with corresponding pairs of notches 19 inthe plate, at the center and adjacent the two ends.

It will thus be seen that the blade has a longitudinally sliding and pivotal mounting, whereby it can be swung laterally to either: side of neutral, or pulled forwardly and pushed back, and that, 'impositive locking means are provided whereby the blade is held in either of two positions with respect to longitudinal movement, and any one of three positions as to lateral movement. The normal or neutral position of the blade is centraland rearward. The eXtentof longitudinal movement is limited by the length of the slot 7, and the extent of swinging movement by the tongue 17 striking against the shoulders 20 toward the ends of the plate 14.

Two contacts 21, 22, which will be termed for convenience right and left contacts, are fastened to the base at opposite sides by screws 23, which serve to bind the wires 24, of two of the external circuits controlled by the switch. Said contacts may be in the form of strips extending forwardly from the screws and having their forward portions offset upwardly and bent downwardly at the ends, to form spring-yielding tongues.

These contacts are engaged by oppositely projecting lateral wings 26, 27 on the blade, positioned so that when the blade is rearward and swung to right or left one of the wings rides frictionally upon the corresponding spring-yielding contact tongue.

A third contact is formed by a plate 28 secured to the base behind the pivot by screws 29, to one of which the wire 30 of a third external circuit is secured. This contactis beneath the blade and spaced therefrom. A downwardly bent spring tongue or lower face projection 31 on the rear'end of the blade clears the contact in the neutral position, and also in the right and left positions of the blade, when the latter is rearward, but rides upon the contact when the blade is pulled forward. The contact 28 is made curved and long enough to be engaged by the projection 31, whether the blade is central or at the right or left provided it is pulled out, and when the blade is out its wings 26, 27 are displaced with reference to the right and left contacts 21, 22 so that they cannot engage therewith. Thus, it is not necessary to pass to central in order to break. the right or left circuit and close the third circuit, or vice versa. That is to say, for example, if the blade is at the right, closed on contact 21, the circuits of contacts 22 and 28 being open, the circuit of contact 21 can be opened and the blade closed on contact 28 simply by drawing it forward without changing its angular position.

A common contact member 32 is arranged so as to be clear of the blade in neutral position and to be electrically engaged thereby in any of the positions of the latter in which it is closed upon the contacts 21, 22 or 28. Said member preferably consists of a bridge passing freely over the rear portion of the blade, in all rearward positions of the latter, the ends of the bridge being offset downwardly and fastened to the base by screws Toward the ends of the bridge are forwardly projecting contact portions or tongues 84, 35, over and opposite the tongues of the right and left contacts 21, 22, and formed similarly and reversely thereto,that is to say offset downwardly and having their extremities curved up. The two pairs of tongues thus form spring sockets in which the wings 26, 27 are frictionally received when the blade is swung right or.left in the rearward condition. Thereby electrical connection is made simultaneously from the blade to the contact 21 and the common contact member, or to the contact 22 and the common contact member, as the case may be.

The intermediate portion of the bridge is curved rearward behind the pivot and lies over the contact 28, and the rear end of the blade is formed with another tongue 36, offset upwardly, forming an upper face projection, which when the blade is moved forward rides beneath said intermediate portion of the bridge, at the same time that the tongue 31 rides upon the contact 28. The bridge yielding resiliently at such time insures a good. contact. The arrangement of the contact 28, bridge 32 and face projections 31 and 36 is such, it will be noted, that connection is established from the blade to the bridge or common contact member whenever the blade is closed upon the contact 28, that is to say whenever the blade is forward, whether in central or laterally displaced position.

The common contact member is utilized to cause'the sounding of a buzzer or selfcontained signal 37, which in the construction illustrated is secured beneath the top of the cover 2 and connected with the bridge by a wire 38 passing to one of the screws Another wire 39 from the buzzer leads to ground or back to the battery. The buzzer will therefore be sounded whenever an external circuit is made through any one of the three contacts 21, 22, 28, and its failure to sound when the blade is moved to any of its operative positions will indicate something wrong in the switch or in the circuits or apparatus controlled thereby.

From the foregoing it will be understood that withthe switch blade central and to the rear, current is on the blade through the plate 14, but all three external circuits and the buzzer circuit are open. If the blade is swung to the right, while remaining rearward, it closes a circuit through the right contact 21 and also closes the buzzer circuit, by reason of the wing 26 passing frictionally between said contact and the contact tongue 34 of the member 32. Similarly, if the blade is swung to the left, wing 27 passes frictionally between left contact 22 and contact tongue of the bridge, thus closing the left circuit and the buzzer circuit. Finally, if the blade be drawn forward the lower and upper face projections 31, 36 engage simultaneously with the third contact 28, closing its circuit, and with the bridge or common contact member, closing the buzzer circuit.

Numerous changes in form, proportions and arrangement may be made without departing from essentials, 7

hat I claim as new is:

1. A three-way switch having a blade provided with a mounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinally, right and left stationary contacts engage blade, the're'lations being such that'the blade by swinging,a third contact engageable by.

ever the latter engages any one of said three contacts.

able by winging, and athird contact engageable by longitudinal movement'of the engages the third contact through longitudinal movement irrespective- OfltS position in respect to, swinging and when so moved does not engage either of the right and left' contacts; I r

2. A three-way switch having ablade provi'ded with 'a mounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinall right and left stationary contacts engageab e longitudinal movement of the blade, the relations being such that the blade engages. the third contact throughlongitudinal movement irrespective of itspo sition in respect to swinging and when so moved does not engage either of the right and left contacts,

and a common contact from which the blade.

is disengaged in neutral position and which is adapted to be engaged by the blade when- 3. A three-way switch comprising a base,

a blade provided with a longitudinally sliding and pivotal mounting whereby it can be swung laterally and pulled forwardl on the base, right and left contacts with w ich the blade is alternately engageable by swinging and, another contact with which it engages on being pulled out, the blade having oppo a, sitely projecting lateral wings adapted to cooperate with the right and left contacts inthe rearward condition of the blade only, and a face projection for cooperation with the third contact, said third contact being extended at oppositesides of the'central position of the blade, so as tobe engageable by the blade irrespective of, its angular position.

l. A three-way switch comprising a base, a blade provided with a mounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinally on the base, right and left contacts engageable alternately by the blade by swinging, a third contact engageable by the blade on longitudinal movement, and a common contact member from which the blade is disengaged in neutral position and with which it engages simultaneously with each of said other contacts, said common contact member having portions opposite said right and leftcontacts, between which and said contacts the blade is frictionally received.

5. A three-way switch comprising a base, a blade provided with a mounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinally on the base, right and left contacts engageable alternately by the blade by swinging, a third contact engageable by the blade on longitudinal movement, and a commounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinally on the base, right and left contacts engageable alternately by the blade by swinging, a third contact engageable by the blade on longitudinal movement, anda common contact member bridging the blade from which contact the blade is disengaged in neutral position and with which it engages simultaneously with each of said other contacts, said blade having projections on oppositefaces arranged to engage simultaneously with the third contact and with the common contact member when the blade is moved lengthwise.

7. A three-way switch comprising a base, a blade provided with a mounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinally on the base, right and left contacts engageable alternately by the blade by swinging, a third contact engageable by the blade on longitudinal movement, and a common contact member, from which the blade is disengaged in neutral position and with which it engages simultaneously with each of said other contacts, said common contact member having portions opposite said right and left contacts, and the blade having op positely projecting lateral wings to enter frictionally between said contacts and contact portions when the blade is'swung, and being further provided with projections on opposite faces to engage simultaneously with the third contact and the contact member when the blade is moved lengthwise.

8. A three-way switch comprising a base of insulation, a blade provided with a mounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinally on the base, right and left contacts on the base engageable alternately by the blade by swinging, a third contact engageable by moving the blade lengthwise, and a common contact member bridging the blade out of contact therewith in neutral position and arranged to be engaged thereby simultaneously with each of said three contacts.

9. A three-way switch comprisinga base, a blade provided with a mounting whereby it can be swung laterally andmoved longitudin ally on the base, right and left contacts on the base engageable alternately by the blade by swinging, a third contact engageable by moving the blade lengthwise, and a common contact member bridging the blade out of contact therewith in neutral position a and arranged to be engaged thereby simultaneously with each of said three contacts,

said bridging contact member having end contact portions oppositethe right and left hand contacts.

10. A three-way switch comprising a base, a blade provided with amounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinally on the base, right andleft contacts on the base engageable alternately} by the,

blade by swinging, a third contact engageable by moving the blade lengthwise, and a common contact member bridging the blade out of contact therewith in neutral position and arranged to be engaged thereby simultaneously with each of said three contacts, said blade having oppositely projecting lateral blades to enter frictionally between said contacts and contact portions, and :face projections adapted to engage with the third contact and the central part of the bridging contact member.

11. A three-way switch comprising a base, a blade provided with a mounting whereby it can be swung laterally and moved longitudinally on the base, right and left contacts, a third, contact beneath the blade and normally out of contact therewith, and a common contact member over the blade and normally out of contact therewith and having end contact portions over the right and left contacts, the blade being adapted to pass frictionally between said contacts and contact portions when swung and having upper and lower face projections to engage the third contact member when moved lengthwise. V o

12. A three-way switch comprising a pivoted and longitudinally sliding blade, two contacts wherewith the blade is alternately engageable by swinging, a third contact engaged by the blade by longitudinal movement, impositive snap holding means at the pivot for holding the blade in respect to longitudinal movement, and means removed from the pivot for holding the blade in its positions of pivotalmovement.

13. In a switch of the character described, the combination with a base and a pivot, of a blade having a slot engaging said pivot whereby it can be swung and moved longitudinally, said blade being further provided with impositive holding elements spaced in the longitudinal direction at the region of the slot, and yielding confining means comprising a member on the pivot cooperative with said elements to hold the blade in longitudinally shifted positions.

14. In a switch of the character described, the combination with, a base and a pivot, of a blade having a slot engaging said pivot whereby it can be swung and moved longitudinally, said blade being further provided with impositive holding elements spaced in the longitudinal direction at the region of the slot, and yielding confining rfleans comprising a member on the pivot having means engaging the blade so as to turn therewith while permitting the blade to slide and means cooperative with said elements so as to hold the blade in longitudinally shifted positions.

15. In a switch of the character described, the combination with a base and a pivot, of a blade having a slot engaging said pivot whereby it can be swung and moved longitudinally, said blade being further provided with impositive holding elements spaced in the longitudinal direction at the region of the slot, and yielding confining means comprising a member arranged to turn on the pivot and having ears embracing the blade and a holding element to engage alternately with the holding elements of the blade.

CLAUDE DE F. SMITH. 

